The Wilmingtonian., 1887-05-07
Ash Collecting-And at Night.

ASH 1OtitCLtnS- S-<thN ht MS NJ
Our new Street and Sewer Commissioner
are very properly credited v it'll being very
progressive ard intelligent gentlemen.
We are sure that as soon as they get to
consider the question of garbage collecting
"a most important one on account of the
many abuses connected with tour new
Commissioners will give due attention to
the natuie of the complaints SO often made
by our citizens.
The writer has witnessed more than once
the following picture--a windy day, dimly
discerned ash cart with its gigantic mules
and negro divers enveloped in snow-like
mist of flying dust which arose in successive
eruptions volcano-like, as one by one the
various barrels were tilted into the cart
These clouds of lime grit and calcareous
dust few around down along the pavement,
assailing unfortunate pedestrians whose
eyes were filed with it, and who probably
fol the remainder of the day suffered ex-
cruciating pain from the effect. Residents
must imperativcly close their windows when
the ash-men are around.
measure to order that all citizens use pail
or two Of water in each ash-barrel.
Also in reference to the men cleaning
streets somewhat similar scene may be
witnessed.
The poor old fellows who load up the
carts flom dust heaps as the latter are swept
together, pay little or no attention to the
way the work ia done. S1ovel-full after
shove-full of the fine dust is thrown into
carts but only half of each shovel load
reaches its destiny at the bottom of the
cart. The remainder is borne off by the
wind in clouds, attacking the eyes, faces and
hroats of all those who may happen to be
"in the wind" of the tired won kers.
Complaints in reference to abuses of this
nature has often been made by house.
holders.
1t is interesting TO note that New York
municipality has been experiencing similar
difficulty in its street-cleanins department.
The following from the NV Ynk
Times, more especially in regAIG ntsr ash
barrel topic.
Mayor Hewitt did net ask o ther President
Bay)e4, of the Health Department., OIL Street
Cleaning Comm IS oner Coleman to cuufcl
with him Yesterday as to the com: laint,
that ha been received in references to the
colecti m of ashes aud garbage at night
The Mayor said that he had received som,
complaints fir I'm householders and turned
them ON or tu either Nj. Coem ~ ur MI
Bayles, according as the letter, Iefcrled IT,
matters within the control oi either dcparI.
ment
Street Cleaning Commits ,iuner g. lrma
said that he had tired TO have the system
car i'd out in the best possible way, so thn,
there should be the slightest cause flr com
p!aint, People had written him on the sub
ct, and some had complained of the noise
the carts made in going through the stl eets
There were otter annoyanCes noted, AID lie
had been devsing means to do away with as
many of these d fiji 5ulties as possible. 1t
was proposed to put rubber springs between
the cart and the axles. Tns would lessen
the noise SOMEWHAT. Thtre was no inten-
tioh to abandon the system; indeed, it was
proposed to extend it SO as to cover the Flf-
ieenth rs we'll as tho Nineteenth p .ecinct,
and north t. Fifty-ninth street as we'll.
This would be done Ia about two weeks and
would involve the night collection in that
part Of the city between Houston and Fifty
ninth streets and Fourth aud Seventh ave.
nues. Mr. Coleman added that it was pro-
posed to amend the sanitary laws so that
every householder will be compelled, after
placing the barrels or cans where they can
readily be emptied, to pour pailful of
water into the receptacle.